Automatic blank-feeding apparatus for cup-forming machines



Dec; 7 1926.- 1,610,191" 4 c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUSFOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July-15, 1 22 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 90. 707jii/ Dec. 7,1926. 1,610,191

c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANKFEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINESFiled July 15 1922 1O Sheets-Sht 2 1,610,191 (3. BARBIERI Fi 1e ly 192210 Sheets-Sheet 5 w MM A, MW N g AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS .FORCUP FORMING MACHINES m A A Q RN H QM QM Mn w um i A x A J 1% A w NM mm QNM... mm H w W Dec. 7 1926.

Dec. 7 I

c. BARBIERI AuToMATIc BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MAcHiNESFiled July 15-. 1922 10 Sheets-Shet 4 NQ kfiw SQ. my V R. ms QQW 3 R QmkmQ m H .e i I m r v k QNT u 1 J 1 @N f .WNKN i 3K E d 1 Ni V \N\ f M 0Dec. 7, 1926. 1, 10,191

c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINESFiled July 15, 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm 1 Hi I iml mmm Q III! 1,610,191 C; BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMINGMACHINES Filed July 15, 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 w W F Dec. 7 1926.

EEEEE Dec. 7 1926. r c. BARBIERI AUTOMATICB LANK FEEDING APPARATUS FORCUP FORMING MACHINES File July 5. 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 7 1926.1,610,191

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMINGMACHINES";'.'

File y 1922 10 heet 's Sheta Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,191

5 c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING-APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINESFiled July 15, 1922 -l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 i 4" 7 /I I 61 22 Z I 72 I I 622b 5- :E [i121 I desarefian mrz Dec. 7,1926. 1,610,191

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS/FOR CUP FORMING MACHINESFi e l 1922 10 Sheets-Shet 1o zze m {09 '1 //2 //3 /02 05 v Iv "v 7c?!41 mm l WI VEEEi-IIIR Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES CESARE BARBIERI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO THE VORTEX MFG. (10., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC BLANK-FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP-FORMING MACHINES.

Application filed July 15.

This invention relates to automatic paper.

cup forming machines and more particularly to an automatic apparatus foruse in connection with paper cup forming machines '5 for the purpose ofautomatically feeding roperly formed paper cup blanks singly intothefield of operation of rotating forming dies at predeterminedintervals to permit the blanks to be formed into cups.

Heretofore, the cup blanks have been manually removed from a stack ofblanks and placed, or pushed upon a reciprocating table to be deliveredto the forming machine dies.

It is an object of this invention to pro- 5 vide an automatic blankfeeding mechanism for an automatic-paper cup forming machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an attachment for acup forming machine whereby a stack of cup blanks is adapted to beautomatically raised a predetermined amount each time a blank is removedfrom the stack and automatically delivered into the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blank feed mechanismwherein a blank supporting carriage is adapted to be automaticallyelevated each time a blank is automatically removed therefrom' anddelivered upon a feed table by a suction means provided for'the purpose.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cup forming machinewith a mechanism adapted to separate a cup blank .by means of an airblast from a stack oi blanks as said blank is buckled and lifted by asuction apparatus which delivers the blank to a feed table.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a cup makingmachine with .a blank feed mechanism adapted to first I remove a blankfrom a vertically adjustable blank supply carriage and then transfer theblank to a table from which it is adapted to be automatically removedand transferred onto a reciprocating feed table provided with suitablestops for holding the blank in proper position to be fed into the fieldof operation of cup forming dies forming a part of'the machine.

7 Still another object of theinvention is to provide a cup formingmachine with a blank feed carriage adapted when ablank is removedtherefrom to be elevated by a feed deviceoperable' by a mechanism auto-1922. Serial No. 575,341.

matically governed by the level of the uppermost blank on the carriage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cup forming machinewith a cam controlled arm having a suction mechanism thereon adapted toengage and remove the uppermost cup blank from a stack of blanks antransfer the blank into a position wherein the suction mechanism isautomatically released to permit the elevated blank to be deposited upona table into a position to be engaged by a gripping means andtransferred thereby onto a reciprocating plate adapted to advance theblank into the field of operation of cup forming dies at a predeterminedtime to permit the blank to be gripped by said dies and formed into acup.

It is anotherobject of this invention to provide a cup-formin machinehaving a reciprocating feed mec ianism adapted'to be operated from themachine to carry a blank from a stationary table onto a reciprocatingtable at a predetermined time to permit said blank to be fed between cupforming dies at a proper time in a cup forming operation.

It is an important object of this invention to dprovide an improvedautomatic blank fee ing mechanism for a cup forming machine, saidmechanism being operable from the machine and timed to coact withforming dies of said machine.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a cup forming machineshowing the automatic blank feeding mechanism embodying the principlesof this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine and the feedmechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine and the blank feedmechanism with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the 105 feed mechanismillustrating the different positions of a cup blank during its progressinto the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the blank feed mechanismtaken on line 110 -5 of Figure 4 showing the parts in starting position.

Figure 6 is a similar View illustrating the second operation in thefeeding of a blank.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure (i illustrating the positions ofthe mechanisms as a blank is delivered upon the stationary table.

Figure 8 is a. reduced top plan view of the machine supporting frameillustrating the driving mechanisms for transmitting a drive to theautomatic blank feeding mechanisms.

Figure 9 is a vertical detail section of the feed mechanism taken online 99 of Figure 2 with parts in elevation.

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on line 1010'ofFigure 1.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the feed release mechanismtaken on line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail section of the blank carrying carriagetaken on line 1212 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 1313of Figure 5 with parts omitted.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 1414 of Figure5.

Figure 15 is a detail view taken on line 1515 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail view taken on line 1616 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View taken on line 1717 ofFigure 4.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 18--18 of Figure1.

Figure 19 is a detail section taken through the table on line 1919 ofFigure 4.

Figure 20 is a detail View taken on line 2020 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 1s a side elevation of the detail shown in Figure 20.

Figure 22 isv a detail view taken on line 22-22 of Figure 10 with partsomitted.

Figure 23 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 23-23of Figure 10.

Figure 24 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section of the blanktransferring mechanism taken on line 24-24 of Figure 3.

Figure 25 is ,a detail section taken on line 2525 of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a detail view taken on line 2626 of Figure 14.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a machine frame having supportedthereon a head 2. Mounted in suitable bearings in the machine head 2 isa main driving shaft adapted to be driven from any suitable source ofpower. Secured on the driving shaft is a driving gear 3 meshing with alarger gear 4 supported on a shaft 5 held in bearings in the head 2.Also fixed on the to the machine frame 1.

.ing fixed on its lower end a;. cup pressing cone or die 14 for coactionwith the cone 8. A cone scraping mechanism 15 is positioned to coactwith the pressing cone 14 and is supported by means of a bracket 16forming a part of the pivoted sleeve 11. Fixed on the shaft 13 is abeveled gear 17 which meshes at all times with a beveled gear 18 mountedon the shaft 7.

The cup forming machine hereinbefore described is similar inconstruction and operation to the paper cup forming machine shown anddescribed in my co-pending application for patent for an automatic cupforming machine, filed October 28th, 1918, Serial No. 259,986, theentire interest in which has been assigned to The Vortex Mfg. (70..of-Chicago, Illinois.

The cup forming machine has attached thereto an automatic cup blank feedmechanism which covers this invention. A'st-a- 'tionary inclined table19 is rigidly mounted upon a bracket 20 of the frame 1. A

slide table 21 is mounted beneatlrthe table,

19 upon suitable guides 22 and 23, the ends of which are supported onthe bracket 20. An arm or lever 24 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 25supported on bearings 32 secured The free endof the lever 24 isconnected by means of a link -to one of the supporting brackets 26 ofthe slide table 21 so that with each oscillation of the lever 24 Wlllcause a corresponding longitudinal movement of the slide table 21substantially in the plane. of themeeting surfaces of the cup formingdies 8 and 14 of the cup forming machine.

Any suitable means may be provided for oscillating the lever 24. In theform shown, a plate or arm 27 is mounted upon the pivot shaft 25 withthefree end of said arm 27 connected by a spring 28 to the lever 24. A boss29 is provided on the lever 24 with an adjustable screw 30 extendingtherethrough and arranged to normally contact with an extension 31formed on the arm 27. The spring 28 acts to resiliently maintain thescrew 30 in contact with the extension 31 of the arm 27 Secured to shaft25 is acrank arm 33 to the upper end of which is pivotally .connectedone end of a. link 34, the other end being pivotally connectedeccentrically to the gear 4 to receive a drive therefrom. Also pivotallyconnected to the crank arm 33 below the link 34 is one end of aconnecting rod or link 35, the other end of which is pivotally connectedto one end of a crank arm 36 fixed on a shaft 37. The shaft 37 isdisposed parallel to the shaft on the opposlte side of the machine frame1 and is supported by bearing brackets 38 secured to the machine frame.Also secured to the oposite end of the shaft 37 is a crank arm 39.

ivotally connected to the free end of the crank arm 39 is the upper endof an operating bar or red 40, the lower end of which is pivotallyconnected intermediate the ends of a lever 41 to a support 59 adjustableby means of a screw 60 (see Figure 1). The

lever 41 has the lower end thereof pivotally supported on a stub shaft42 supported in a bearing 43 formed integrally on a bracket 44 securedto the machine frame 1.

Mounted upon the stationary table 19 is a blank retaining spring or arm45 beneath which cup blanks slide when being advanced to thereciprocating table 21. Secured upon the upper surface of the movabletable 21 is a blank guide block 46 and a blank guide flange 47. Theshiftable table 21 is provided with an opening or notch 48 in U whichthe bent end or projection 49 of' a blank supporting bar 50 is adaptedto be engaged when the table 21 is in its advanced feeding position. Thebar 50 is slidably supported on the underside of the reciproeating table21. The bar 50 serves to hold the advance projecting ends of the cupblanks in an elevated position when the shiftable table 21 is advanced.Secured to the bottom of the stationary table 19 and projecting out overthe top of the reciprocating table 21 is a blank stop 51. Secured to theslidable table 21 is a guide' bar or rod 52.

Attached to the slidable table 21 is one end of a bar 53 having a rack54 formed or secured thereon. Fixed on the machine frame 1 is one end ofa horizontal beam or bar'55, the outer end of which is supported bymeans of upright parallel guide rails 56, the lower ends of which aresupported on the bracket 44. Slidably engaged on the bar 53 is a block57 having a boss or projection 58 formed on one side thereof andprojecting through a slot in the upper end of the lever 41 to permit thelever 41 when operating to slide the block 57 back and forth on the rackbar extension 53. Fastened to the block 57 is one arm 61 of an anglemember,

the other arm 62 of which is disposed to slide against the outer surfaceof the stationary bar 55. The angle member arm 61 is bent upwardly toafford an inclined finger or blank grip 63 which projects upwardly overthe lower margins ofthe tables 19 and 21 as shown in Figure 18. Securedto the angle member arm 61 is an upwardly direct-ed channel bracket 64carrying a pivot pin 65. Fulcrumed on the pin 65 is an arm 66 one end ofwhich is disposed above the finger 63 and has a gripping shoe 67pivotthe fulcrume ally supported thereon to e-oact with the .end of alink or toggle 72 having the lower end thereof pivotally connected tothe upper end of a toggle or link 73. The lower toggle member 73 ispivoted to the angle memher arm 62 and is provided with notches 74 forreceiving a cross piece 75 on the to 'gle 72. Fixed on the stationarybar 55 is a oss 76 having a set screw 77 adjustably engaged therethroughand disposed in the path of the cross piece 7 5of the toggle 72 to breakthe straight line toggle connection between the toggles 72 and 73 asillustrated in Fig ure 1 when the bloek57 is at one end of its movement.Also fixed on the stationary bar 55 is a boss 78 having a set screw 79adjustably engaged therethrough and also disposed in the path of thetoggles 72 and 73 to move saidtoggles in alignment as shown in Figure20. The operation of the toggles 72 and 73 when in alignment causes thebolt 70 to slide upwardly against the screw 69 thereby causing the arm66 to swing the gripping shoe 67 into gripping contact with the finger63. When the toggle alignment is broken, the spring 68 acts on the arm66 and lifts the gripping shoe 67 away from the finger 63 to release acup blank.

Bolted or otherwise secured upon the horizontal bar 55 is a plate orcasting 80 having a long upright arm 81 and a short upright arm 82integrally formed thereon. Also integrally formed on the late 80 is. a

bearing sleeve 83 through whici the upper plain end of a feed screw 84projects. The lower end of the feed screw 84 is journalled in a bearingsleeve 85 integrally formed on the bracket 44. A handle 86 is secured onthe upper end of'the feed screw 84 for manual rotation of the feed screwwhen desired.

A vertically movable carriage 87 is provided having an inclined topplate for carrying a stack of cup blanks 88. Mounted on the carriage 87are rollers 89 and 90 which are positioned to track on opposite sides ofthe guide rails 56 to hold the earriagein apredetermined path. Formed onthe carriage 87 is an arm 91 having an opening therein through which thefeed screw 84 projects. Pivotally mounted on the carriage arm 91 bymeans of pins 92 is a pair of gripping handles 93 each having a half nut94 integrally formed thereon for engagement with the feed screw 84. Thehandles 93 are separated by means of a coiled spring 95 which acts tohold the two half nuts 94 engaged against opposite sides of the carria efeed screw to permit the carriage to e raised or lowered when the feedscrew 84 is rotated.

The mechanism for automatically rotating the feed screw 84 to move thecarriage comprises a ratchet 96 which is fixed on tie feed screw 84 bymeans of a hub 97. A pawl 98 coacts with the ratchet 96 and is supportedon a p'n 99 which projects downwardly 1 through an opening provided inone arm of a bell-crank 100. The bell-crank 100 is pivotally engaged onthe upper portion of the feed screw 84: between the ratchet 96 and thehearing 83. Attached to the bell-crank 100 is-one end of a spring 101which is formed to engage against a flattened surface on the lowerprojecting end of the pin. 99 to hold the pawl in resilient contact withthe ratchet 96. Connected to the long arm of the bellcrank 100 is oneend of a coiled spring 102, the other end of which is attached to thestationary upright arm 81. The spring 102 acts to normally hold the longarm of the bell-crank 100 against the end of a stop pin or rod 103 whichis fastened to one side of the stationary upright arm 81 to limit thethrow of the bell-crank by the spring 102.

Projecting through the stationary upright arm 81 is an upper horizontalstationary rod or shaft 104 provided with a longitudinal slot 105. Anarm 106 is rigidly secured near the slotted end of said shaft 104. Ashort rod 107 is secured to the outer end of the arm 106 and is disposedparallel to the upper shaft 104. Also supported on the upright arm 81 isa lower horizontal stationary rod or shaft108 parallel and disposedbelow the upper shaft 104. Slidably engaged on both of the shafts 10 1and 108 to the outside of the upright arm 81 is a sliding yoke orbracket 109 having an arm 110 integrally formed thereon. Fulcrumed onthe yoke arm 110 is a member 111 to which one end of a bar 112 issecured. The bar 112 is positioned to slide on a shoulder 113 providedon the stationary upright arm 81 to permit said bar to coact with thebell-crank 100 to cause rotation of the feed screw 84 by the pawl 98acting on the ratchet 96. Pivotally connected to one end of the member111 is one end of a link 114, the other end of which is pivotallyconnected to one end of a beam 115 fulcrumed on a pin 116 on theslidable yoke 109. A roller 117 is rotatably mounted on the second endof the fulcrumed beam 115 and is positioned to track upon'the uppermostcup blank 88 .when the upper level of the stack of cup blanks reaches orpasses a predetermined level. In case the cup blank carrying carriagehas been fed upwardly to dispose the level of the uppermost cup blankabove a proper feeding position, the roller 117 riding on the uppermostblank will cause the beam 115 to be tilted so that the bar- 112 will betipped upwardly above the level of the bell-crank 100 to prevent the bar112 from operating said bell-crank, thus temporarily discontinuing theupward feed of the carriage 87 by the feed screw 84.

Rot-atably supported on the short upr1ght arm 82 of the casting 80 is agear 118 which is in mesh with the lower rack 54 and with an upper rack119. The upper ck 119 is horizontally disposed and is secured to thelower end of an intermediate bracket or yoke 120 which is slidablymounted on both of the stationary shafts 104 and 108. The rack 119 isprovided with a shoulder 121 adapted to coact with the yoke 109 to slidethe same in one direction on the shafts 10 1 and 108. A cylindricalextension rod 122 is integrally formed on the rack 119 and slidablyprojects through an opening provided in the lower portion of the yoke109. A head 123 is formed on the end of the rack extension rod 122 toslide the yoke 109 in the opposite direction on the shafts 104i and 108,

Integrally formed on the upright arm 81 is a boss 124 in whichone end ofa stationary stub shaft- 125 is rigidly secured. Fastened to the stubshaft 125 is a bracket 126 which projects outwardly and downwardly andhas a stop arm 127 secured thereto in position to serve as a stopagainst which the uppermost cup blanks 88 are adapted to engage to holdthe cup blanks properly stacked on the carriage 87.

Rigidly secured on the end of the stub shaft 125 is a casting or block128 having an opening therein through which a rod or shaft 129 slidablyprojects. A head 130 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 129 to limitthe inward movement of said shaft when said head 130 contacts the block128. Secured on the inner end of the shaft 129 is a plate 131 having acam edge 132. A projection or stop 133 is formed on the cam plate 131.-VVound around the shaft 129 is a coiled spring 134, one end of whichbears against the block 128 while the other end engages against the camplate 131. The cam.

plate 131 is positioned to slidably project through a guide block 135integrally formed on the yoke 120 and against which the projection 133is adapted to be engaged. A retaining plate .136 is removably secured'tothe block 135 by screws orother suitablemeans to form a suitable guidefor the cam plate 131. Slidably projecting through an opening in theblock 135 is a rod 137 having stop collars 138 secured on one endthereof. A coiled spring 139 is engaged aroundthe rod 137 between theblock 135 and the stop collars 138.' Rigidly secured or integrallyformed on the other end of the slidable rod 137 is a gr'iide earn 140having a cam edge 14]. which together with the cam edge 132 of the camplate 131 afl'ords a guide passage for a roller 142 which is'adapted toroll on the cam edge 132 of the cam plate 131 as hereinafter described.

A cup blank buckling mechanism is provided and comprises a bracket 143which is supported on the shaft 125 and has pivotally supported in thebifurcated end thereof the reduced end 144 of bar 145. A rod 1461ssecured in the end of the bar projection 144 and has a counterweight 147adjustably engaged thereon to normally hold the bar 145 in an elevatedposition. The end of the bar 145 is bifurcated or notched to permit ahandle 148 to be pivotally supported therein. Fastened on the lower endof the handle 148 is a cup blank pusher or head 149 made of Ill rubberor other suitable material. One end of aplate spring 150 is secured tothe top of the bar 145 while the free end of said spring bears againstthe upper end of the pusher mounted therein. The valve 163 is handle 148to normally hold the pusher 149 swung underneath the bar 145 asillustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Secured to one side of the bar 145 is adownwardly directed arm 151 having a tapered finger or extension 152integrally formed thereon. Fastened to the bottom of the block 135 is abracket 153 to which an arm 154 is secured at right angles as shown inFigure 15 for coaction with the tapered finger 152 on the arm 151. A lug155 is bent upwardly from the bracket 153 and has a screw 156 threadedtherethrough and held in an adjusted set position by a lock nut 157. Thescrew 156 is disposed in the path of the pusher handle 148 to coact withsaid handle to operate the pusher at a predetermined time. For thepurpose of limiting the swing of the pusher handle 148 by the spring150, a screw 158 is engaged through the handle 148 to coact with a stop159 formed on the bottom of the bar 145 as illustrated in Figure 15.

Slidably engaged on the stationary shafts 104 and 108 is a block or yoke160 connected to the slidable yoke 120 by means of a coiled spring 161.The yoke 160 is provided with a key which slides in the groove 105 ofthe shaft 104. Formed upon the yoke 160 is a valve casing 162 having avalve 163 rotatably rovided with a uadrant groove 164 into WlllCll a pin165 in t e casing projects to limit the movement of the valve withinsaid casing to a quarter of a revolution (see Figure 23). The

' valve 163 is also provided with a diametrical passage 166 and with .anair inlet passage or groove/167. An air intake opening 168 is providedin the valve casing 162. Connected in an outlet assage of the valvecasing 162 is one-end o at flrxible hose or pipe 169, the other endofwhich is connected to an air exhaust-or suction mechanism of anydesired type (not shown). Connected in an intake passage of the. valvecasing 162 is one end of tween a pair of parallel bent arms 177 by.

means of a bolt 178 or similar means. 1 The two arms 177 are providedwith curved slots 179 through which pins 180 on the block 17 6 projectto limit the swinging of the 'block about the bolt 17 8. The two arms177 are secured to opposite sides of a U-shaped casting 181 having anintegral extension or arm 182 which is pivoted on a in 183 supported onthe lower end of a brac st 184 secured to the slidable yoke 160.Integrally formed on the U-shaped casting 181 is a projection 185 onwhich the roller 142 is rotatably mounted for coaction with the camplate 131. Also fixed on the nozzle containin block 17 6 is a pin 186adapted to coact with the hooked bracket 187 integrally formed on theplate 136 secured to the block 135 of the slidable yoke 120.

Integrally formed on the valve 163 is a valve stem 188 which projectsthrough a sleeve 189 of the valve casing 162 and has a lever 190 fixedon the outer end thereof and disposed between the spaced ends of the rod107 and a rod 191 secured to thesta'tionary upright arm 81 in alignmentwith the rod 107.

Mounted on themachine frame is an air nozzle 192 connected with an airsupply pipe 193 having a control valve 194 therein. As shown in Figure5, the air nozzle 192 is positioned to blow air between the upper cupblanks 88 on the feed carriage 87 to separate said blanks to permitproper automatic feeding of the same into the machine. To hold the cupblanks 88 in a stack one above the other on the carriage 87, guide barsor rods 195 are supported on the machine bracket 44 and extend upwardlyat one side of the carriage 87.

The operation is as follows:

The cup forming machine is adapted to be.

operated through a driving shaft connected with any suitable source ofpower and having the gears 3 and 6 mounted thereon. The gear 6 isadapted'to impart a drive to the shaft 7 on which the main cup formingdie 8 is supported. The beveled gear 18 on the shaft 7 being in meshwith the beveled gear 17 acts to rotate the auxiliary shaft 13 a d heresser die 14 mounted on the end thereof. The cup forming dies 14 and 8are separated at the beginning of a cup forming ing, a reciprocatingmotion is iven to the slidable table 21 by. means of e lever 24. Thelever 24 is oscillated from the shaft 25 which is rocked back and forthby the crank arm 33 connected eccentrically by the link 34 to the gear 4to receive a drive therefrom.

This invention relates to a cup forming machine attachment adapted tofeed cup blanks into the cup forming machme automatically atpredetermined intervals. Be-

.fore the cupforming machine is started, the

handles 93 are gripped manually and forced toward one another therebycompressing the spring 95 and moving the half nut members 94 out ofengagement with the carriage feed screw 84. The carriage 87 is thusreleased and is permitted to slide downwardly with the guide' rollers 89and 90 thereof tracking on opposite sides of the guide rails 56. Thecarriage 87 is thus lowered to the lower end of the feed screw or to anydesired elevation. The handles 93 are then released and the spring 95acts'to force said handles apart thereby again moving the half nuts 94into threaded engagement with the feed screw 84. A stack ofcup blanks ofthe required shape are now placed upon the inclined top plate of thecarriage 87 and against the guide bars 195 and the guide 127 which actto holdthe cup blanks properly stacked upon the feed carriage.

When the machine is started, the table 21 is reciprocated as alreadydescribed. As shown in Figure 22, the spring 102 acts to hold the longarm of the bell-crank 100 against the end of the stop pin 103 and thespring 101 holds the pawl 98 in engagement with the ratchet 96 toprevent reverse rotation of the ratchet and the feed screw 84. As thetable 21 is moved from its innermost position, illustrated in Figure 3,outwardly beneath the stationary table 19, the rack 54 attached to theslidable table .21 is moved outwardly thereby rotating the gear 118which being in mesh with the rack 119 pulls said rack inwardly therebysliding the yoke 120 and at the same time pulling the rack extension 122through the yoke 109 until the head 123 on said extension contacts saidyoke 109 and forces the same inwardly on the shafts 104 and 108 towardthe stationary arm 81. As the yoke 109 slides inwardly,

the bar 112 connected with said yoke slides inwardly over the shoulder113 of the arm 81 and is forced against the bell-crank 100 operating thesame and thereby causing the pawl 98 to rotate the ratchet 96 and thefeed screw 84. It will thus be noted that as the table 21 continues tobe reciprocated, the

- feed screw 84 is rotated, thereby causing the carriage 87 to begradually elevated to raise the stack of cup blanks a predeterminedamount with each reciprocation of the slide table.

It is desired to keep the level of the uppermost blank of the stack at acertain height to permit proper feeding of the cup blanks into themachine. Should theblank carryingcarriage 87 be elevated too high, theroller 117 is adapted to track over the top of the stack of cup blanksand causes the beam 115 to pivot thereby forcing the link 114 downwardlyto cause the bar .112 to swing upwardly out of the plane of thebells,

crank 100. Th bar will thus pa -s over the bell-crank 100 and will notactuate the same so that no further feeding of the blank carryingcarriage 87 will take place until thelevel of the stack of cup blankshas been reduced to the required level.

It will thus be noted that the feed carriage 87 is adapted to beautomatically fed upwardly as cup blanks are taken therefrom and thatthe feeding of the carria e is automatically stopped when the cup lanksare elevated above a predetermined level. When the machine is inoperation, the air valve 194 is opened to permit air to be blown throughthe nozzle 192 against one side of the upper portion of the stack of cupblanks. 'This is done to separate the fiat cup blanks so that only oneblank at a time will he removed from the stack.

With the slidable table 21 in its innermost osition, the roller 142 ispositioned at the ower end of the cam 1.31 holding the blank raising arm177 in its lowered position with the plate 173 of the suction nozzle 171resting upon the uppermost cup blank 88 as illustrated in Figures 3 and5.. At the time that the table 21 reaches its innermost position, thevalve control lever 190 contacts the stop rod 191, thereby causing thevalve 163 to be moved into the open positidn of Figure 23 wherein thevalve passage 166 is in register with the pipes 169 and 170. The suctionin the pipe 169 causesair to be drawn inwardly through the nozzlepassages 172 and the pipe 170 then through the valve passage 166 and outthrough the air exhaust pi e 169. The suction thus produced at t enozzle 171 acts Ito automatically draw the uppermost cu Ian: .88 u wardla ainst the plate 173. p y g 7 As the above operation takes place, theyoke 120 moving on the shafts 104 and 108 approaches the stationaryupright arm 81 thereby carrying the bracket 153 towards the blank pushermechanism disclosed in detail in Figure l5. The arm 154 is thus movedinto engagement with the tapered end .of

the finger 152 thereby causing the fulcrumed' bar 145 to swingdownwardly raising the counterweight 147. As this operation occurs, thescrew 156 carried by the lug 155 on the bracket 153 is brought intocontact with the upper end of the pusher handle 148 thereby swinging thehandle against the action of the control spring 150 and at the same timecausing the lowered pusher head 149 now in contact with the uppermostcup blank 88 to push said uppermost blank and buckle the same as shownin Figure. 5 to separate it from the blank immediately therebelow. Theuppermost blank is thus attracted to the lifter plate 173 by suction andbuckled by the pusher head 149 ready to be lifted from the stack andtransferred,

I onto the stationary table 19.

As the slide table 21 reaches its innermost position, the togglemechanisms 72 and 73 are in the straight line position otFigure 20 andare thus carried by the sliding member 6162 which is actuated by thepivoted lever 41. The toggle mechanisms are thus advanced intoengagement with the set screw 77 as shown in Figure 1 which acts tobreak the straight line toggle connection therebypulling the plungerdownwardly permitting the spring 68 to release the gripping shoe 67moving the same away from the finger 63 into the position shown inFigure 18.

As the table 21 is retracted by the lever 24, the rack 54 operates thegear 118 and the rack 119 thereby causin the-rack 119 to move the yoke120 away from the stationary arm 81 carrying the guide cam 140therewith. The control spring 134 on the rod 129 having been compressedby the block 135 moving against the stop 133 on the cam 131 now actsautomatically to push the cam 131 inwardly from the position illustratedin Figure 5 into the position shown in Figure 6.. The cam 131 is thuspushed beneath the roller 142 which rolls upwardly on the cam edgc 132thereby automatically causing the arm 177 to swing upwardly about thepivot 183. The top cupblank 88 is thus lifted. away from the stack intothe position shown in Figure 6 and the block 17 6 swings downwardlyabout the pivot 178 with the guide pins 180 tracking in the .curvedgrooves 179. I

- With the continued retraction of the table 21, the yoke 120 isgraduallyImOVed into contact with the slidableyoke 160 and the hookedbracket 187 is moved into position beneath the pin 186 on the block 176of the suction blank lift mechanism. The yoke 160 is thus pushed by theyoke 120 away from the stationary arm 81 and toward the positionillustrated in Figure 7. With the retraction of the yoke 120, the spring134 V continues to act on the cam 131 and its rod 129 until the head 130contacts the block 128 which limits the further movement of said cam. Asthe yoke 160 is pushed away from the arm 81, the roller 142 rollsdownwardly on the cam edge 132 of the-cam 131 thereby gradually loweringthe arm 177 and the.

suction block mechanism carrying the cup blank 88 as said cup blank iscarried over one end of the stationary table 19 from the position A ofFigure 4 into position B. As the arm,177 is lowered, the pin 186 on theblock 17 6 is seated on the hook member 187 thereby causing the block 176 to swing 7 the bar 145 at thesame time that the counterweight 147swings the bar 145 upwardly in normal position ready for the nextoperation.

As the cup blank is moved into the position shown in Figure 7 over oneend of the stationary table 19, the lever 41 operated by the rod 40moved the bracket 61 -62 longitudinally over the stationary bar 55 intoa position wherein the toggle members 72-73 are brought into engagementwith the set screw 79. This operation causesthe toggle members 727 3 tobe moved into the straight line position of Figure 20 thereby pushingthe plunger 70 upwardly "against the screw 69 on the fulcru'med arm 66.The gripping shoe 67 is thus moved toward the gripping finger 63clamping one margin of stop "rod 107 supported by the. member 106 on theshaft 104. The valve lever 190 is thus actuated to cause the valve 163to rotate through a quarter of a turn thereby shutting ofi theconnection'between the suctionpipe 169 and the pipe 170 and moving thegroove 167 to connect the pipe 170 with the air intake opening 168thereby breaking the suction action on the raised cup-blank. 88 which isconsequently automatically released. y Y

At this stage in the operation, the lever 24 starts to advance thereciprocating table 21' inwardly toward the'cup t'orming' dies 8 and 14.As the-table 21 moves inwardly, the lever 41 also .f s'wii'i'gs backtoward the position shown in Figure '1, thereby sliding the cup blankgripping mechanisms on the bracket 61-62 inwardly'to advance oi" pull.the cup blank 88 from the position B of Figure 4 over the stationarytable 19 an d befront of the stops 46 and 51. The toggle members 72 and7 3 are also advanced toward the rack 54 acting on the gear 118- causesthe upper rack 119 to slide outwardly thereby moving the yoke 120outwardly toward the stationary arm 81. As the yoke 120 advances, thespring 161 connecting the yokes 120 and 160 acts to pull the yoke 160out-- wardly in the shafts 104 and 108 with the key in the yoke 160sliding in the slot 105 of the upper shaft 104. The roller 142 on thearm 177 is thus again brought into engagement with the lower end of thecam 131 and advances up the cam edge 132 to elevate the arm 177 and thesuction cup blank lifting mechanismso that the pin 186 and the block 176is elevated, out of the hook member 187.

When the key on the yoke 160 reaches the end of the slot 105, the yoke160 is held stationary while the yoke 120 continues to ad- Vance towardthe arm 81 thereby moving the hooked arm 187' away from beneath the in186 and at the same time advancing the guide 140 toward the cam 131.When the yoke block 135 reaches the stop 133 on the cam 131, the cam ispushed a ainst the action of the spring 134 towar the arm 81 therebymoving the stop head 130 outwardly away from the stationary block 128.As the cam 131 is moved away from the now stationary yoke 160, theroller 142' rolls down the cam edge 132 thereby automatically loweringthe arm 177 and the suction mechanism into the lowered position of Fig-.-ure 5 into contact with the top cup blank on the carriage 87 When theyoke 120 starts to move away from the yoke 160, thespring 161 istensioned.

.When a cup blank 88 is deposited upon the advancing table 21 intoposition C of Figure 4, a ortion of the blank projects beyond the avance edge of the table 21 and is supported upon the supporting bar 50.The cup blank 88 is thus supported upon the' table 21 against the stops46 and 47 with the projecting portion of the blank resting on the barprojection 49 to hold the advance portion of the cup blank at anelevation substantially in the plane of the meeting surfaces of the cupforming dies 8 and 14- of the machine.

As the advance end of the cup blank 88 is projected between the formingdies 8 and I 14, the raised portion of the cam 9 rotates away from theroller 10 thereby permitting ing dies 8 and 14 to permit a paper cup tobe automatically formed and then discharged from the forming die 8 bymechanisms forming a part of the cup forming machine.

After a cup blank has been automatically fed between the forming diesand gripped thereby, the table 21 is again automatically retracted frombeneath the cup blank 88 permitting the trailing end of said cup blankto be supported by the bar 50 and the projection 49 at the end thereof.

The cycle of operations may be repeated as often as desired to permitthe cup blanks 88 on the carriage 87 to be automatically elevated' andthen lifted automatically one by one from the stack onto the stationarytable 19 from which the blanks are automatically gripped and transferredonto the reciprocating table 21 and then released to permit the blanksto be automatically fed into the field of operation of the cup formingdies to be formed into cups."

If desired, the feed screw 84 may be rotated manually by means of thehandle 86 to elevate the carriage 87.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention,-andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

.1. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, amovable table, means connected with the movable table and operable fromthe machine for reciprocating the movable table, and a cup blank feedingattachment connected with the machine and operable by the reciprocatingtable and from the machine for automatically feeding cup blanks into themachine over said stationary table and onto the reciprocating table.

2. The combination with a cup forming machine and the reciprocating feedtable thereof, of a. cup blank feed attachment supported on the machineand operable by said feed table.

The combination with a cup forming machine and the forming dies thereof,of means for advancing cup blanks between said forming dies a mechanismoperable by said advancing means for lifting cup blanks from a stack ofblanks, and means operable by the machine for transferring the liftedblanks onto the advancing means.

4. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary andreci rocating tables thereof, of a cup blank ifting mechanism, means forraising a stack of cup blanks into the field of operation of the cupblank lifting mechanism, means connected to be operated by thereciprocating table to actuate the lifting mechanism to cause a cupblank to be lifted from said stack and delivered to said stationarytable, and a transfer mechanism operable by the machine for transferringthe blank from the stationary table onto said reciprocating table to befed into the machine.

5. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a blank feedingattachment connected to be operated from the machine and comprising acup blank lifting mechanism, a movable carriage for carrying a stack ofcup blanks, means for advancing the carriage toward the liftingmechanism, means operated from the machine for actuating the liftingmechanism to cause a cup blank to be lifted from the carriage, and meansoperated from the machine for engaging the lifted cup blank andconveying the same into the machine.

6. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a mechanism operablefrom the machine for automatically removing the cup blanks one at a timefrom a stack of cup blanks, means for gripping the removed cup blanksand drawing the same up to the machine, and means for automaticallyreleasing the gripping means to permit the cup blanks to be fed into themachine.

7. The combination with a cup forming machine, of movable means forcarrying a stack of cup blanks, suction means for engaging a cup blankon said stack, means for buckling the engaged cup blank, a cam mechanismfor elevating and advancing the suction means to elevate and advance theengaged cup blank, means. for releasing the elevated'eup blank, and adevice for gripping the released cup blank and feeding the same intovthe machine.

8. A cup forming machine blank feedingattachment comprising a blankcarryin'g carriage, mechanisms for automatically re-q moving andcarrying blanks from said carriage, means. for gripping .the blanks andcontinuing the advancement thereof, and means for releasing the grippingmeans to permit the blanks to be released when sufiiciently advanced.

9. A cup forming machine blank feeding attachment comprising a blankcarrying carriage, means for separating the blanks thereon, mechanismsfor automatically removing and carrying blanks from said carriage one ata time, means for releasing the blanks from said mechanisms, a grippingmechanism for engaging the released blanks to advance the same, andmeans for causin the gripping mechanism to release the blan s at apredetermined time.

10. A cup blank feeding attachment com' prising a carriage for carryinga stack of cup blanks, means for separating the blanks, a mechanism forengaging the uppermost blank, a pusher for buckling said uppermostblank, means for raising and advancing said mechanism to remove theblank from the carriage, means for causing said mechanism to release theblank, a gripping device adapted to engage the blank and continue toadvance the same, and means for causing the gripping device toautomatically release the advanced blank at a .predetermined time.

11. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a carriage for carrying astack of cup blanks, guides for said cup blanks, means for advancing thecarriage, a device for engaging the uppermost cup blank, :1.

same to cause gripping of the cup blank, a

lever mechanism for advancing the gripping mechanism and said cup blank,and meansfor releasing the gripping mechanism to cause release of thecup blank.

12. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a carriage for carrying astack of cup blanks, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, means for operatingthe same at intervals to cause the carriage to be elevated, a pivotedarm, a suction'mechanism thereon, a cam device for lowering said arm topermit the suction mechanism to rest upon the uppermost cup blank onsaid carriage, means for operating the suction mechanism to attract theuppermost cup blank, means for advancing the arm and saidsuctionmechanism, means for actuating said cam to cause elevation ofsaid arm and said suction mechnism, a device acting on the suctionmechanism for releasing the lifted cup blank, a gripping means, amechanism for operating the gripping means to cause grippin of thereleased cup blank, a pivoted mem er for advancing the gripping meansand the cup blank engaged thereby, and a stop member for releasing thegripping means to cause release of the cup blank when sufiicientlyi; v

the elevating means and advancing the blank, a valve governing saidmechanism,

and stationary means for causing operation of said valve and release-ofsaid blank when advanced.

14. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a blank holder, a camoperated suction mechanism for removing a blank from said holder andadvancing the blank, a valve forming a part of said mechanism, a stopiao rod for operating said valve for causing release of said blank whenadvanced a predetermined distance, and a reciprocating mechanism foradvancing the blank a further distance.

15. -A cup blank feeding'attachment comprising means for supporting cupblanks, means for automatically lifting a cup blank from said supportingmeans, a stationary table, a guide member thereon, a reciprocatingtable, means for advancing the lifting means over said stationary table,a device for causing the lifting means to deposit the cup blank uponsaid stationary table, a reciprocating mechanism for transferring thedeposited blank from said stationary table onto said reciprocatingtable, and means for operating the reciprocating table to furtheradvance the cup blank.

16. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a cup blank feedingattachment supported thereon, a reciprocating table operable from themachine, and rack and gear means'connecting said attachment with thereciprocating table machine to receive a drive therefrom to cause cupblanks to be automatically fed into the machine.

17. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a cup blank feedingattachment supported thereon, rack and gear means connecting saidattachment with the machine to receive a drive therefrom to cause cupblanks to be automatically fed a certain distance into the machine, andreciprocating means operated from the machine adapted to engage the cupblanks and advance the same the remaining distance into the machine.

18. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary andreciprocating tables thereof, of an attachment on the machine operatedby the reciprocating table to automatically deliver cup blanks onto saidstationary table, a slidable bracket, gripping members thereon, and alever mechanism operated from the machine for moving said bracket topermit the gripping members to transfer the cup blanks from saidstationary table onto the reciprocating table to be delivered into themachine.

19. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary andreciprocating tables forming a part thereof, of means operated from themachine for delivering cup blanks to said stationary table, andmechanisms also operated from the machine for transferring the cupblanks from the stationary table onto said reciprocating table to bedelivered into the machine.

20. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary andreciprocating tables thereof, of means for delivering cup blanks to saidstationary table, and means operated from the machine for transferringthe cup blanks from said stationary table onto said reciprocating table.

21. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary andmovable tables thereof, of means for delivering cup blanks upon thestationary table, a bar supported on the machine, stops adj ustablysupported thereon, a bracket slidably supported on said bar, grippingmembers carried by said bracket, a toggle mechanism on said bracket forcontrolling said gripping members, a lever pivoted on the machine andconnected with said bracket, and means operated from the machine foroscillating the lever whereby the lever when swinging in one directionacts to move the toggle mechanism into engagement with one of said stopsto cause the gripping members to engage a cup blank on said stationarytable so that when the lever swings in the opposite direction thegripped cup blank is transferred from the stationary table onto themovable table and released when the toggle mechanism is brought intoengagement with the other stop.

22. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, areciprocating table, and means 0 erated from the machine for automaticaly drawing cup blanks from said stationary table onto said reciprocatingtable.

23. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table,a. reciprocating table, a gripper mechanism on the machine fortransferring cup blanks from the stationary table to the reciprocatingtable, and a mechanism connected with said gripper mechanism andoperated from the machine for reciprocating the gripper mechanism.

24. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, areciprocating table, a resilient guide on said stationary table, andmeans-operated from the machine for automatically drawing cup blanksfrom said stationary table underneath said resilient guide and onto saidreciprocating table.

25. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, areciprocating table operated from the machine, a bar secured to themachine, a double armed casting secured to said bar, a gear supported onone of said arms, a rack connected to be driven by the reciprocatingtable and in mesh with said gear to operate the same, a blank feedingmechanism supported on the other casting arm, and a rack member operatedby said gear and connected to said feeding mechanism to operate the sameto cause cup blanks to be automatically deposited upon said stationarytable.

. 26. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table,a reciprocating table operated from the machine, a support secured tothe machine, a gear rotatably supported thereon, a rack connected tobedriven by the reciprocating table and in

